Sandal enhancer

ABSTRACT

A sandal enhancer for a sandal having a sole and a thong strap. The sandal enhancer includes a decorative insole that can be placed onto the sole of the sandal to change the appearance of the sandal quickly and easily.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application No. 61/486,272, filed on May 14, 2011, in the United States Patent & Trademark Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to ornamental flip-flops, and more particularly, a sandal enhancer.

Many individuals wear sandals in the summer. However, it can be costly to purchase multiple pairs of sandals in a variety of colors and designs. Individuals often employ a scarf or belt to enhance their style and their outfit. Many would like to coordinate their sandals with their outfit, but do not have sandals in the desired color or pattern. An easy solution is needed.

The sandal enhancer offers consumers a quick and convenient way for adding style to an existing pair of sandals. The present invention allows individuals to change the look of their sandals and enhance their wardrobe. The sandal enhancer can be used by men, women, and children and is available in a wide variety of sizes and patterns. The present invention is comprised of a decorative insole that can be placed onto a sole of a sandal to change the appearance of the sandal quickly and easily. Consumers will appreciate the style and convenience that the sandal enhancer provides.

The sandal enhancer enables individuals to change the appearance of their sandals. The present invention is comprised of a decorative insole that can be reapplied as needed. An adhesive layer on a bottom surface of the decorative insole allows the decorative insole to be removed from one sole and be reapplied onto another sole without the adhesive layer losing its sticking properties. The decorative insole will be available in a wide variety of sizes and styles to accommodate various types of sandals for the men, women, and children. The decorative insole will have cutout areas to accommodate a thong strap on the sole. The decorative insole will be available in a wide variety of patterns, including various colors, animals, geometric shapes and floral images. A printed film sheet may be used to apply the patterns onto the decorative insole. The exact specifications may vary.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous innovations for custom configured footwear have been provided in the prior art that will be described. Even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, however, they differ from the present invention.

A FIRST EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,555,584, Issued on Sep. 17, 1996, to Moore III, et al. teaches a method of producing a custom-fitting article such as a custom-fitting footbed (for example, a removable insole), a custom-fitting hand grip, a custom-fitting body pad, and a custom-fitting orthopedic cast. A member for producing same and a composition for use in connection therewith are also provided. A member, such as a gel pad or gel-filled envelope, is provided which comprises a body of formable material having a minimum setting temperature greater than 130.degree. F. and being setable by heating for a period not exceeding 30 minutes and subsequent cooling. The member is conformed by biasing it against a body part of a person or mammal with sufficient pressure to conform the member to the shape of the body part. The member is then heated for a period not exceeding 30 minutes and thereafter cooled so that the formable material is set and the member remains flexible while resiliently retaining an impression of the body part. The composition preferably comprises uncured silicone rubber, an effect amount of crosslinking agent, and effective amounts of a) fine powder ethylene copolymer or terpolymer or a mixture thereof and b) liquid plasticizer.

A SECOND EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,667, Issued on Apr. 27, 1999, to Barsorian teaches an article of footwear which includes an outsole having a bottom walking surface and a depressed top surface surrounded by an upstanding peripheral sidewall having a upper peripheral edge, an upper attached to the outsole, and a replaceable inner sole. The upstanding peripheral sidewall and depressed top surface of the outsole together define a cavity lying generally below the upper peripheral edge. The upper and outsole together define a volume disposed over the cavity and generally above the upper peripheral edge, the volume sized comfortably accommodates a wearer's foot. The replaceable inner sole has a body sized and shaped to fit snugly within the cavity portion, generally removed from encroachment of the volume, while supporting a wearer's foot within the volume.

A THIRD EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,544, Issued on Oct. 5, 1999, to Goldman et al. teaches a sports sandal with a removable insole inside the body of the sandal, which, when removed, allows a user to install a therapeutic comfort device. The therapeutic device can be frozen or warmed according to the user's preference.

A FOURTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,055, Issued on Nov. 30, 1999, to Connor teaches footwear products incorporating the use of natural materials; therein, and, more particularly, insoles, liners, and footwear incorporating sisal material. The sisal material is arranged so as to provide direct contact with a user foot in order to avail to the user foot the sisal therapeutic benefits of skin massaging, exfoliation of the skin, increased blood flow and ventilation, and the wearability benefits of a non-slip surface and evacuation of foreign objects from direct contact from a user foot. The insoles are at least partially formed of sisal material and can be provided in a flat or contoured form. As another embodiment, the sisal insole is provided as part of a sisal sandal arrangement which incorporates sandal straps and sandals fasteners for attachment to a user foot in a sandal arrangement. An additional embodiment is directed to the form a sisal liner which can be permanently or removably insertable into footwear so as to afford an arrangement providing a lining of sisal material within at least a portion of a cavity of a footwear.

A FIFTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2003/0200675, Published on Oct. 30, 2003, to Gross teaches a series of interchangeable stackable intermediate core sole modules have mating interlocking post and hole connectors and mating hook and loop fasteners and edge ridges for stacking a series of the core modules. Footwear uppers have a conventional top foot accommodating structure and a bottom surface with mating components to interconnect with the core modules. Footwear bottoms have a bottom surface with conventional soles and have an upper surface with mating components to interconnect with the core modules. Interchangeable core modules vary in material, color, texture, style, shape, thickness, and other physical features for individualizing footwear.

A SIXTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2008/0196269, Published on Aug. 21, 2008, to Bathum teaches sandals with adjustable post assemblies. In one embodiment, a sandal can include a sole assembly and a first strap coupled to the sole assembly. The first strap is positioned to engage a forefoot area of a wearer's foot. The first strap includes an aperture proximate to an intermediate portion of the first strap. The sandal also includes an adjustable post assembly extending through the aperture. The post assembly includes a post portion coupled to the sole assembly and one or more flexible second straps projecting from the post portion and configured to be releasably coupled to the first strap. The first strap is movable along at least one of the post portions and the one or more flexible second straps to adjust the position of the first strap relative to the sole assembly for engagement with the wearer's foot. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims 37 C.F.R. 1.72(b)).

A SEVENTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2010/0242309, Published on Sep. 30, 2010, to McCann teaches a shoe sole with embedded gemstones which is a shoe sole having opposed upper and lower surfaces with a plurality of gemstones being embedded therein, adjacent to the upper surface. The shoe sole includes a base layer, with the plurality of gemstones each partially projecting above the upper surface of the base layer such that the gemstones contact the user's feet when the shoes are worn. Alternatively, a removable insole for shoes may be provided, with the shoe insole similarly forming a base layer having opposed upper and lower surfaces, with a plurality of gemstones being embedded within the base layer. Similarly, the plurality of gemstones each partially project above the upper surface of the base layer such that the gemstones contact the user's feet when the shoes are worn.

AN EIGHTH EXAMPLE, U.S. Patent Office Publication No. 2010/0307026, Published on Dec. 9, 2010, to Andrews teaches a thong style sandal system having removable and interchangeable ornaments that fasten to the sandal upper by means of a releasable attachment system (snap) that will hold the ornament securely in place but also allow for quick and easy removal of the ornament . The ornaments may be of many different designs (i.e. flowers, monograms, butterflies, sports emblems, etc) thus allowing the wearer to have fun with expressing different styles or moods when desired.

It is apparent now that numerous innovations for custom configured footwear have been provided in the prior art that are adequate for various purposes. Furthermore, even though these innovations may be suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address, accordingly, they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

AN OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a sandal enhancer that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.

ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a sandal enhancer that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

STILL ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a sandal enhancer that is simple to use.

BRIEFLY STATED, STILL YET ANOTHER OBJECT of the present invention is to provide a sandal enhancer for a sandal having a sole and a thong strap. The sandal enhancer comprises a decorative insole that can be placed onto the sole of the sandal to change the appearance of the sandal quickly and easily.

The novel features which are considered characteristic of the present invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of the specific embodiments when read and understood in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The figures of the drawings are briefly described as follows:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the present invention from a sandal; and

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing a plurality of decorative insoles having a variety of patterns thereon.

REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING

110 sandal enhancer

112 sandal

114 sole of sandal 112

116 thong strap of sandal 112

118 decorative insole of sandal enhancer 110

120 toe portion of decorative insole 118

122 front cutout area in toe portion 120

124 intermediate portion of decorative insole 118

126 side cutout area in intermediate portion 124

128 heel portion of decorative insole 118

130 foam cushion material of decorative insole 118

132 printed film sheet of decorative insole 118

134 releasably holding mechanism of sandal enhancer 110

136 adhesive layer of mechanism 134

138 protective cover of mechanism 134

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1: the present invention is a sandal enhancer 110 for a sandal 112 having a sole 114 and a thong strap 116. The sandal enhancer 110 comprises a decorative insole 118 that can be placed onto the sole 114 of the sandal 112 to change the appearance of the sandal 112 quickly and easily.

The decorative insole 118 consists of a toe portion 120 having a front cutout area 122, an intermediate portion 124 having two oppositely positioned side cutout areas 126 and a heel portion 128. The toe portion 120, intermediate portion 124 and heel portion 128 are integrally formed together. The front cutout area 122 and two side cutout areas 126 will accommodate the thong strap 116 on the sole 114 to allow the decorative insole 118 to properly sit upon the sole 114 of the sandal 112.

The decorative insole 118 is comprised out of a foam cushion material 130 being sized and shaped to match up with size and shape of the sole 114 of the sandal 112. The decorative insole 118 contains a wide variety of patterns thereon, selected from the group consisting of various colors, animals, geometric shapes and floral images. The decorative insole 118 can further comprise a printed film sheet 132 having the patterns thereon. The printed film sheet 132 is affixed onto a top surface of the decorative insole 118.

The sandal enhancer 110 further contains a mechanism 134 for releasably holding the decorative insole 118 onto the sole 114 of the sandal 112, whereby the decorative insole 118 can be removed from the sole 114 of the sandal 112 and reapplied onto a sole 114 of another sandal 112. The releasably holding mechanism 134 comprises an adhesive layer 136 applied onto a bottom surface of the decorative insole 118 and a protective cover 138 placed over the adhesive layer 136. When the protective cover 138 is removed from the adhesive layer 136 on the bottom surface of the decorative insole 118 the adhesive layer 136 can be pressed onto the sole 114, in which the adhesive layer 136 will retain the decorative insole 118 in a removable manner onto the sole 114 of the sandal 112. When the decorative insole 118 is removed from the sole 114 the adhesive layer 136 will retain its sticking properties.

As shown in FIG. 2: The decorative insole 118 contains a wide variety of patterns thereon, selected from the group consisting of various colors, animals, geometric shapes and floral images. The decorative insole 118 consists of a toe portion 120 having a front cutout area 122, an intermediate portion 124 having two oppositely positioned side cutout areas 126 and a heel portion 128. The toe portion 120, intermediate portion 124 and heel portion 128 are integrally formed together. The front cutout area 122 and two side cutout areas 126 will accommodate the thong strap 116 on the sole 114 to allow the decorative insole 118 to properly sit upon the sole 114 of the sandal 112.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodiments of a sandal enhancer, accordingly it is not limited to the details shown, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 

1. A sandal enhancer for a sandal having a sole and a thong strap, the sandal enhancer comprises: a) a decorative insole that can be placed onto the sole of the sandal to change the appearance of the sandal quickly and easily, and wherein the decorative insole comprises: b) a toe portion having a front cutout area; c) an intermediate portion having two oppositely positioned side cutout areas; and d) a heel portion, whereby the toe portion, intermediate portion and heel portion are integrally formed together, in which the front cutout area and two side cutout areas will accommodate the thong strap on the sole to allow the decorative insole to properly sit upon the sole of the sandal.
 2. The sandal enhancer as recited in claim 1, wherein the decorative insole is comprised out of a foam cushion material being sized and shaped to match up with size and shape of the sole of the sandal.
 3. The sandal enhancer as recited in claim 1, wherein the decorative insole is comprised with a wide variety of patterns thereon, selected from the group consisting of various colors, animals, geometric shapes and floral images.
 4. The sandal enhancer as recited in claim 3, wherein the decorative insole further comprises a printed film sheet having the patterns thereon, whereby the printed film sheet is affixed onto a top surface of the decorative insole.
 5. The sandal enhancer as recited in claim 1, further comprising means for releasably holding the decorative insole onto the sole of the sandal, whereby the decorative insole can be removed from the sole of the sandal and reapplied onto a sole of another sandal.
 6. The sandal enhancer as recited in claim 5, wherein the releasably holding means comprises: a) an adhesive layer applied onto a bottom surface of the decorative insole; and b) a protective cover placed over the adhesive layer, whereby when the protective cover is removed from the adhesive layer on the bottom surface of the decorative insole the adhesive layer can be pressed onto the sole, in which the adhesive layer will retain the decorative insole in a removable manner onto the sole of the sandal, so that when the decorative insole is removed from the sole the adhesive layer will retain its sticking properties. 